Patrizia Sonato
Photography
The door of no return
Just as Auschwitz is the emblem of the extermination camps, Gorèe in Senegal is the symbol of the slave trade, since, given its western location, it was the starting point for the transfer of slaves to America by European merchants.
The slaves were kidnapped from their countries of origin and before being sold they were stationed in the claustrophobic cells of Gorèe, after having been divided into women, men, children, the healthy, the sick. Whoever was chosen passed the "door of no return" to face the ocean towards North or South America.
This trade lasted from 1536 to 1848. In these 3 centuries approximately 60 million slaves passed through Gorèe.
The port is still called the "port du voyage sans retour". Looking out from this door onto the ocean you can't help but think of the suffering experienced that you can still perceive by touching the walls and listening to the stories.
Gorée - Senegal, 2019
The slaves were kidnapped from their countries of origin and before being sold they were stationed in the claustrophobic cells of Gorèe, after having been divided into women, men, children, the healthy, the sick. Whoever was chosen passed the "door of no return" to face the ocean towards North or South America.
This trade lasted from 1536 to 1848. In these 3 centuries approximately 60 million slaves passed through Gorèe.
The port is still called the "port du voyage sans retour". Looking out from this door onto the ocean you can't help but think of the suffering experienced that you can still perceive by touching the walls and listening to the stories.
Gorée - Senegal, 2019
